Press Archive – LAW SOCIETY JOURNAL 2, 1February 2006, “Portraits of the Profession”

Portraits of the profession

FACES IN COURT, an exhibition of portraits of members of the legal profession, painted by members of Portrait Artists Australia, will be opened by his Honour, Mr Justice Meagher on Friday 10 March 2006 in the gallery beside the Buena Vista Cafe on Level 14 of the Courts Building in Queens Square. The exhibition is due to run for one month.

Portraits of judges, of leading advocates and of outstanding attorneys have played their part in the history of the development of the legal system, often providing as much insight about the artist as about the subject. This exhibition reflects growing interest in portraiture, and provides tangible evidence that contribution to the shaping of the legal system is intensely personal.

A national professional artists’ association, Portrait Artists Australia (www.portraitartistsaus tralia.com.au) is the brainchild of Nafisa Naomi, an acclaimed portraitist born in Mumbai and educated in Hong Kong and Syd ney. Ms Naomi attended the Julian Ashton Art School after being awarded the Arthur Boyd Scholarship. In 1999 she became an Exhibiting Member of the Royal Art Society of NSW and is currently completing a Masters degree in fine arts at the National Art School.

Members of Portrait Artists Australia are strongly represented in selections for Australia’s major portrait prize competitions, such as the Archibald, the Portia Geach, the Doug Moran and the Shirley Hannan.

Constance Farquarson’s portrait of Mr Justice Meagher will be displayed for the exhibition. This portrait was painted two years ago (before his time in Libya) and shows his Honour in casual mode, at ease in his favourite armchair and in familiar surroundings.

Another artist exhibiting is Eva Herz Murray. Born in Austria, Ms Murray came to Australia as a child. She has specialised in portraiture for several years, and will exhibit por traits of two solicitors for this show, one in pastel and one in charcoal.

Nafisa Naomi’s portrait of Maurice Neil QC will be on display, and also her portrait of Ms Elizabeth Cohen of Edmund Barton Chambers. Q

Artist Eva Herz Murray with her portrait of Anthony Morrissey, partner at Hunt & Hunt, which has been selected to appear in an exhibition at the Courts Building in Queens Square next month.

February 2006

LAW SOCIETY JOURNAL 21